News Release

Mover and seconder named for speech from the throne

23 October 2017

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The names of the mover and seconder for the speech from the throne were announced today by Government House Leader Rick Doucet.

Caraquet MLA Hédard Albert will move the acceptance of the throne speech during the opening of the fourth session of the 58th legislature on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The motion will be seconded by Restigouche-Chaleur MLA Daniel Guitard.

“As government house leader, I am proud that Hédard and Daniel, as mover and seconder for the speech from the throne, will help us begin our fourth legislative session,” said Doucet. “Our government has been listening to New Brunswickers, and we have been working hard to ensure continued delivery on their priorities of health care, education and job creation. During this session, New Brunswickers can expect us to remain focused on these priorities, and we will continue to bring forward measures and initiatives to create more jobs and support healthy families and an enhanced quality of life across our province.”

Albert was first elected to the legislative assembly on June 9, 2003. He is currently a member of the Jobs Board.

During his time in the legislature, Albert has served in a number of ministerial roles, including human resources, wellness, culture and sport, and tourism and parks, as well as being responsible for La Francophonie. He also served as caucus whip and deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Albert has also been Opposition critic for intergovernmental affairs, official languages, culture and sport, education and early childhood development, agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, the New Brunswick Provincial Capital Commission, finance, economic development, Invest NB and the Regional Development Corporation.

Before being elected, Albert spent 34 years at the New Brunswick School of Fisheries in Caraquet, where he held various positions, including director. He has been involved in various international development projects with the Canadian International Development Agency and other organizations and institutions. He took part in establishing an international association of francophone fisheries schools and helped implement partnerships with France, Mauritania, Senegal, Tunisia, Benin, Togo, Morocco and Haiti. He was the eastern representative on a committee of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, which assessed international project proposals.

Guitard was elected to the legislative assembly on Sept. 22, 2014. He is vice-chair of the standing committee on economic policy and the standing committee on private bills, as well as a member of the legislative administration committee, the standing committee on procedure, privileges and legislative officers, the standing committee on public accounts, and the Policy Board.

Before being elected, Guitard worked for nearly 16 years with the federal department of Employment and Immigration. In 1995, he acquired a business specializing in the sale and servicing of recreational products. On five occasions, he won the silver award for dealers with the best customer ratings for after-sales service. In April 2011, he became a financial planner with the National Bank and an agent with the Knights of Columbus; he remains an active member of the Knights of Columbus in his village.

Guitard has been active in his community as the chair of various festivals, manager of hockey and baseball teams, a municipal councillor, and the chair of Atlas Park. He served on the Belledune District Planning Commission and the Beresford, Nigadoo, Petit-Rocher and Pointe-Verte (BNPP) Regional Police joint committee.